Supporting column for x-ray tubes and analogous members



"Math 17,1925. 1,530,063

F. TICHY SUPPORTING COLUMN FOR X-RAY TUBES AND ANALOGOUS MEMBERS Filed Sept. 2, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l a 28 25 =f1suns E;-

I VEN TOR his ATTORNEY.

March 17, 1925. 1,530,061?

F. TlCHY SUPPORTING COLUMN FOR X-RAL TUBES AND ANALOGOUS MEMBERS Filed Sept. 2, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 =F1GL'1RE 4 WEIR- 5 lEUREQE $5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK TICHY, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T WA PPLER ELECTRIC COM- PANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed September To all w/zom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK TICHY, a citizen of the United States, residin in Astoria, in the county of Queens and i tate of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Supporting Col umns for X-Ray Tubes and Analogous Members, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise description;

My invention relates to supporting colunms for X-ray tubes and analogous mem bers; that is, to devices which are used after the manner of a column or post, for supporting devices such as X ray tubes and parts associated therewith, invsueh manner as to allow the X-ray tube and other parts or mechanism equivalent to the X-ray tube and-the parts associated therewith, to be adjusted into diiferent positions required in practice, the adjustment admitting of considerable refinement and being of such character that when the adjustment is once made,

' various movable parts may be locked firmly in position.

My improved supporting column and parts associated'therewith are for general use, but are specially adapted for use with X-ray tubes, for instance in making stereoscopic displacements.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specifica-g tion, and in which" like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several ,figures.

Figure 1 is' a fragmentary side elevation of ,my device,-certain parts being broken away and others appearingin section.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 6 is a fragmentary section showing certain arts appearing in the upper portion' of igure 1, but upon a scale somewhat larger than that of said Figure ,1.

- Figure 7 is a fragmentary section through SUPPORTING CO'LUMN FOR X-RAY TUBES AliTD ANALOGOUS MEMBERS.

2, 1922. Serial No. 585,867.

a portion of the mechanism appearing in' general tubular form and serving as a post.

Secured adjustably but firmly upon this column is a collar 8, hel'd'in position by a set screw 9. Mounted loosely upon the top of the column is a cap 10. Secured to this cap and extending downwardly therefrom are a pair of side rails 11 and 12. The lower ends of these rails are by means of bolts 13 secured firmly to the collar 8. For facilitating this purpose the collar 8 is provided with slotted extensions 14, into which the lower ends of the rails 11 and 12 are neatly fitted.

Mounted upon the cap is abearing 16, 'carrying a pin 17, and fitted upon this pin is a pulley 18. Engaging the pulley 18 is a cord 19 a portion of which extends down into the column 7 and carries a weight 21, another portion'extending downwardly and being connected by an anchorage 20 with a spider 22, serving as the frame of a carriage and movable vertically in relation to the column 7, as hereinafter described. The weight 21 thus serves as a counterbalance for the carriage.

The spider 22 carries a bearing 23, having the form of a sleeve, as shown more particularly in Figures '1 and 2. v Extending through the bearing 23 is a round bar 24L which may be locked rigidly in position by aid ofa set screw 25. The bar 24 serves as a mounting for supporting a fluorescent screen of the usual struction.

Revolubly mounted upon the spider 22 are track wheels 26, 27, 28, and 29, thetrack wheels 26 and 28 engaging the edges of the rail 11, and the wheels 27 and 29 similarly engagin the edges of the rail 12. Each track w 'eel 26, 27, 28 and 29 is mounted upon a pintle 30, provided with a portion 31 of reduced 'diameter, extending through a holein the spider 22 and secured firmly m'position by a nut 32.

' The spider also carries four bosses 33, 34, 35 and 36, each provided with a portion 37 of reduced. diameter extending through a or any preferred conhole in the spider and held in position by a;

nut 38.v The bosses 33, 34, 35 and 36 slidably engage the adjacent edges of the rails 11 and 12. Thus the track wheels26 and 27 are paired with the bosses 33 and 34, and the track wheels 28 and 29 are similarly paired with the bosses 35 and 36. For reasons hereinafter stated, however, the bosses bear little or no working strain, practically all of the working strain being borne by the track wheels. Each of .the track wheels is provided with a ball bearing 39, as may be understood from Figure 3. With this arrangement there is a minimum of friction offered by the rotation of the track wheels.

The spider 22, with its track wheels 26,

27, 28 and 29 and bosses 33, 34, 35 and 36,

constitutes-a carriage, which may as a unit be raised or lowered relatively to the column 7.

The boss 33 carries a hook 40, to which a cord may be attached for raising or lowering the carriage. However, the carriage may be raised or lowered directly by hand, so that the use of the cord is not essential.

In order to provide for moving the carriage slightly either. upward or downward at the will of the operator, so as to make a stereoscopic displacement of the X-ray image, I use a rod 41, extending loosely through the boss 33, and held in position by a butterfly set screw 42, which extends axially into the boss 33. When the set screw 42 is forced tightly against the'gage rod 41, the latter is locked firmly in relation tothe boss 33, but when the set screw is loosened the boss 33, and consequently the carriage 32, may be moved relatively to the gage rod 41. The gage rod carries two sto-p pins 43, 44, each extendingdiametrically through it as indicated more particularly in Figure 6. The stop pins 43 and. 44 limit the travel of the boss 33 and the gage rod 41 relatively to each other. A slide 45 is fitted upon the rail 11, and has the general form of a rather flat collar encircling the same.

railH, or rendered loose relatively thereto The rail 11 is provided with a scale 47, preferably graduated as shown, to enable the operator to determine the precise position of the slide 45 relatively to the column 7 and rail 11. The scale also serves as a guide for the operator in order to assist him in adjusting. theslide 45 to a predetermined height relatively to the supporting column. The slide 45 carries the gage rod '41, which for this purpose is provided with a base portion 48, a shank portion 49 and a nut 50, as indicated moreparticularly in Figure '6. The carriage also carries a pointer 51, to assist the operator in making the readings from the scale 47.

'sition by turning the clampingT The slide 45 may 'be moved vertically in relation to the rail '11 and column 7. The slide carries a clamping bolt- 46, and by rotating this bolt slightly the, collar 45 may be secured rigidly upon the- In ractice the operator first determines by ai. of the scale 47 and pointer 51 the position to be occupied by the slide 45. Then he loosens the slide by slightly turning the clamping bolt 46, moves the slide into the position desired, and locks it in pobolt 46. This prevents the carriage 42 om moving vertically in relation to the supporting column 7, except to an extent that the boss 33, carried by the carriage, can move within the limits of travel allowed by the stop pins 43, as may be understood more particularly from Figures 4 and 6. The operator next displaces the carriage vertically through the interocular distance; that is, the distance through which .the X-ray tube must be moved in order to make a pair of stereoscopic views or images; and then by tightening the set screw 42 locks the carriage securely in position. By loosening the set screw 42, shifting the position' of the carriage within the limits thus contemplated and then tightening the set screw, the operator can quickly make the required displacement of the X-ray table and carriage. I

Four track wheels 52, 53, 54 and 55, and four bosses 56, 57, 58 and 59 are mounted upon the spider 22, and, generally speaking, are very much like the four track wheels 26, 27,28 and 29 and the four bosses 33, 34, 35, and 36. A pair of movable rails are shown at 60, 61 and are so disposed as to extend horizontally. The bottom of the rail 60 en ages the boss 58 and the track wheel 54, t e top of this rail engaging the track wheel 52 and the boss 56. The top of the rail 61 engages the track wheel 53 and the boss 57. The rails 60 and 61 are provided with terminal eyes 63 and 64, and a cross bar 65 extends through these terminal eyes'and also through a pair of eyes 66, with which the-spider 22 is provided.

weights 71, as may be understood more particularly from Figures 1 and 5. These weights are provided with slots 72, and by aid thereof are mounted upon a cross bar 73, this cross bar serving as an axle for the track wheels 52 and 53, as indicated more particularly in Figures 2 and 5. As

a general rule the Xray bowl 68 slightly overbalances the weights 71, so that the ex-. cess'of the weight causes the rails to bear against the trackwheels 52, 53, 55, f

' rather than against thebosses .56, 57, 58

sult is that the two rails "just mentioned may beshifted freely in either' of two directions, or in other Wordsthat they may -be moved endwise back and forth, in the horizontal direction in which they extend! When thus shifted in position they are moved practically as a unit. Mounted upon the horizontal rail 60 isa slide. 74, having a form and function analogous to that of the slide above described, and showngin the upper portion ofFigur'e 1. The slide 74 carries a set screw 75, by 'aid whereof it may be locked in different positions relatively to the rail 60, and released from said positions at the will of the operatorf A gage rod 76 is carried by the slide 74, to which it is secured by aid of a'nut 77, The gage rod 76 extends loosely through a hole in the boss 56, the direction of the hole through the boss being diametrical. The gage 76 carries a pair ofstop pins 77 78, for limiting the travel necessary or stereoscopic displacement of the slide, 74 and the box 56 relatively to each other.- The gage rod 76 is provided with an indi-J eating mark 79. a W 7' 1 When the slide 74 is loose relatively to the rail60, the rails 60 and 61 are free to travel. endwise, as above described, to an extent limited in practice by the length of the rails. When, however, the slide, 74 is clamped rigidly upon therail 60 by means 7 of the set screw 75, the rails 60 and 61 can'still move lengthwise, but only to an extent limited by the length of the f gage rodor, in other words, the distance be-- tween the stop pins 77 and 78; This is the inter-ocular distance, above 'explained- The boss 56, being a part of the carriage and thus having no horizontal movement, acts as a limiting stop for the stop pins 77 and 78., i v

The operation of the parts just described may be readily understood from an inspectionof Figures 4 and 7 In orderv to shift the rails 60 and 61 endwise, and to adjust them accurately so as to support the tube holder in a predetermined position, the operator proceeds as follows: If the slide 74 happens to betight upon the rail 60, he turnsthe set screw 75 so as to loosen the slide. He then moves the rails 60, 61, as a unit, sliding-them endwise to the extent required. He next adjuststhe slide 7 4: in such position that theindicating mark 79 upon the gage rod 76 is inside of I the hole through the boss, 56, so that the stop pins, 77, 78, are spaced at about equal ter,

The operator turns the set screw 75, so as to'clamp the slide Tl-rigidly inposition upon'the rail 60. This done-the rails 60 and 61 canstill be-moved endwise bu't as q 7 above explained, only to the limit permitted distance s'upon'oppositesides ofthe bossi' bythe distance between the stop pins 77 anda78, If ,thi sjdi stance is, say, three and one-half inches, and the boss 56 has adiameter of one inch, the rail will have the stereo 'scopic travel of two and a'halfinches,and

if the mark 79 be located 'at ornear the axial centenof the;boss'56 the rails 60 and '61 may be moved to'acdistance of an inch and at quarter-in either of two directions. Thus it will, be seen: that the X-ray tube holdersupported upon the rails as above described, maybe positioned with-great accuracyrelatively to 'the col'umn 7 andnto the position of the X-ravtable, not shown,

and may readily be moved the precise dis- 5 tance' required for interocular displacement in stereoscopic work.v

By means of a screW'handIe-SO the 13 ray tube holder can be loosened so that it may" be rotated-around-the pin 81, as a cen A feature of considerable importance is the fact that vthe horizontal framework,

comprising the horizontal rails 60 and 61 and their immediate connections, may as a unit be turned relatively to the supporting column 7, and thus adjusted in an infinite I number of different angular "positions rela- 1 tively thereto.

In order to shift the horizontal framework in the manner thus contemplated the set screw 9 is loosened, thus loosening the collar 8 relatively to the su porting column 7 Since the cap 10 rests oosely upon the upper end of this :column, the horizontal framework including the rails 60 and 61 may as a unit be now turned relatively to the supporting column, or adjusted into any desired angular position around this column as a center. This done, the set screw 9 is tightened so that the horizontal framework is now held firmly in the position into which it is thusplaced. Such being the case. the tube supporter and the X ray tube-may be "adjusted accordingly, at any desired angle around the column 7 asa center. I

Theadjustmentsjust described are accomplished without the necessity for straining or disfiguring any of the parts, and may be made with the greatest accuracy;

, As a result of this arrangement, the supporting column may bepolished, lacquered,

varnishedor painted, so as to present an attractive appearance,'and can retain such appearance after long periods of constant use. This is because the rotational or angular adjustments, as well as'the vertical and horizontal adjustments, ofthe carriage and I 1 other parts may be made without any necessity for scratching -or otherwise injuring the surface of the supporting column.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown, as variations: may be made therein Without departing from my invention, the scope of whichis' commensurate wlth my claims.

Having thus described my invention,

" what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis as follows:

In an apparatus of the character (lescrlbed the combination of a supporting I column, rails mounted up'oii said supportmg column and extending in the direction of the length thereof and parallel with each other, means controllable by the operator for shifting said'rails into4lifierentangular positions of adjustment around said supporting column as a center, a carriage mounted upon said rails and movable in' the direction of the lengththereof, a frame said supporting column, apair of rails extending from said cap to said collar and disposed-parallel with each'oth'er and with said supporting column, soxthat said rails,

said cap and said collar maybe turned rel- 7 atively to said supporting column, means controllable by the Op rator for clamping said collar in different positionsinto which into different positions along the same,

means controllable by' the operator for securing said carriage in any of said last-men' tioned positions, rails mounted upon said carriage and movable lengthwise relatively thereto, and supporting mechanism carried -by said last mentioned rails for the purpose of supporting an X-ray tube or the like, said supporting mechanism being movable toward and from said supporting column.

5. --In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a, supporting column, rails mounted 'ppon said supporting column and parallel therewith, means for shifting said rails bodily so as tq bring them into different angular positions of adjust ment relatively to said supporting column, a carriage mounted upon said rails and movable relatively thereto into different positions of adjustment, an X -ray tube supporter, means'for supporting said X-ray tube .su porter upon said carriage, and 'mechani 'm controllable by the operator for enabling him to move said carriage and thus to sfTace the Xeray tube supporter at different distances from s'aid supporting column. 1 6". In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a pairof rails,-

=means for supporting said rails parallel with each other and'sothat they extend subit'is thus turned, a carriage mounted upon stantially in'a ,vertical direction, a carriage said rails and movableby the operator in the direction-of the' length thereof, and a member mounted upon said frame forthe \purpose of supporting an X-ray tube or umn of substantially tubular form, a pair umn and revolublerelatively thereto ,so that they may be turnd' into different "angular positions uponsaid supporting column asa "center, means controllable by the operaton for securing saidrails in the different posilengthof said last-mentionedrailsa framcwork mounted upon said carriage and movable' renew e1 thereto indirectio ns crossing the length of-said rails, and aiholder mountled. upon said framework for the purpose of supporting an X-ray' tube or the-like.

4:. In an apparatus .of the character de-.

scribed the combination of-a' supporting col umn, a'pair of rails carried by said sup'portv \mounted upon said rails'and movable in the direction of the length thereof, rails carriedqby said carriage and extending in a direction crossing the length of said first mentioned rails, anda supporting mechanism mounted-upon sai secondmentioned rails and movablerelatively thereto for the pure. 7. In an apparatus ofthe character described, the combination of a supporting column normally extending in a vertical di- 'rection rails supported by said supporting column and extendingparallel therewith, a. carriage mounteduponsaid rails and mo v able :i-n the direction ofthe'lengththereof, means controllable by the operator for securing said carriage fixedly in position at heights predetermined by the operator, 8.

A pose'of supporting an X-ray tubelor the .of rails mounted upon said supporting col- 11k supporting member mounted upon said carriage for the purpose of supporting an X-ray tube or the like, a frame structure carrying said supporting "member, said frame structure extending from said car- 'frame structure being movablerelatively to ria-ge, andibeing supported thereby, said said carriage for the purpose of allowing said supporting member to be spaced from ticallyand being parallel with each ot er, a

carriage movable relatively to said supporting column and provided with'track rollers engaging saidrailspso that said carriage may be moved relatively to saidirails and said supporting column, and a pair of other rails carried by said carriage and crossing the length of said first mentionedrails, an X-ray tube holder mounted upon said; secondsmentioned rails and supported thereby, and means controllable by the operator for shifting said second mentioned rails relatively to said carriage.

' 9. In a device-of the character described the combination of rails spaced apart and disposed parallel with each other, means for supporting said rails so that they extend vertically, a carriage mounted updn said rails and movable in the direction of the length thereof, means controllable at the,

' will of the operator for clamping said carriage in diiferent positions along said rails,

so as to adjustthe height of said carriage relatively to said rails, an X-ray tubeholder, a frame structure connected with said X-ray tube holder for supporting the same, said frame structure engaging said carriage and being movable bodilyin'relation thereto so as to control the proximate. distance from theX-ray tube holder to the rails, a

slide mounted upon said frame structure and 'movable relatively thereto, means for\ clamping said slide rigidly in relation tov said frame structure so as to prevent the frame structure from moving except as the slide is moved, and means controllable at the will of the operator for limiting the 1 travel of the slide, soas to limit the extent to which the frame structure can bemoved relatively to said rails, f

10. In an X-ray apparatus the combination of a supporting-column, a pair of rails carried by said supporting column and dis posed upon opposite sides thereof, said rails being arallel with each other and normally exten ingvertically, a carriage mounted: u on said rails and movable in the direction '0 the length thereof, said carriage being thus movable vertically, anti-friction wheels mounted upon said carriage, a pair ofrails engaging said anti-friction wheels and supported by said carriage said last-mentioned rails being connected together and movable bodily lengthwise in a direction crossing the length of said first mentioned rails and said supporting column, an X-ray tube vholder mounted upon said second mentioned rails means controllable at the will of the opera tor for limiting the travel of the slide rela tively to the position of said first'mentioned rails and said supporting column.

11. In a device of the character described the combination of a pair of rails, means for supporting said rails so that they are parallel' with each other a carriage provided with track wheels and bosses for engaging said rails, so as to permit the carriage to be shifted along the rails and to prevent the carriage from being tilted, other track wheels and bosses mounted upon said carriage, a pair of other railsengaging said last mentioned track wheels and bosses, and I thus supported by said carriage, said second mentioned rails being movable endwise in a direction crossing the length of said first mentioned rails, an X-ray tube holder mounted upon said second mentioned rails and movable bodily therewith to different distances alongfirst mentioned rails, a slide connected with one of said second mentioned rails and normally movable in relation thereto, means controllable by the operator for locking said slide to the rail upon which it is mounted, so as to prevent movements of said secondmentioned rails except as said slide .is moved, and means controllable the operator for limiting the travel of said 12. In a" device of the'character described the combination of a supporting column, a

carriage supported by said supporting column, means controllable by the operator for shifting said carriage into different posiftions relatively to said supporting column, wheels and bosses mountedupon said carsaid supporting olumn and being movable in the general direct-ion of their own length,

a slide mountedlupon one of the rails and normally movable in relation thereto, means for enabling the operator to lock said slide rigidly to the rail upon which it Is mount.

ed, so that said rails, as a unit can move only riage, rails engagin said wheels and bosses 1 and thus supported by said carriage, saidrails extending crosswise of the length of to the extent permitted by movement of the 1 slide a. gage rod connected with said slide and movable therewith, a stop pin carriedby said gage rod, a fixed member located partially within the path of travel of said stop 1 pin for the purpose of limiting the l movement of said gage rod and thereby limviting the movement of said rail, and an X-ray tube holder mounted upon said rails.

trollable by the operator for locking said slide in different positions along said rail, a gage rod carried by said slide, and means for limiting the travel ,of said carriage relatively tolsaid gage rod. p

14. In a device of the character described the combination of a supporting column, a pair of rails mounted upon 0 posite sides of said supporting column and isposedparallel with each other, a carriage mounted u 11 said rails and movable in the direction 0 the length of said rails and said support ing column, a slide, means controllable by the operator for fixing said slide in difi'erent positions relatively to the length of said rails, and mechanism connected with said slide and with said carriage for limiting the extent to which said carriage may be moved relatively to the supporting column and rails, supportin members carried by said slide, and an -ray tube holder mounted upon said supporting members.

'15. In a device of the characterdescribed the combination of a supporting column, a

pair of rails carried by said supporting column and disposed parallel with each, a carriage mounted upon said rails and movable in the direction of the length thereof, means for locking said carriage in different positions related to the length of the rails and supporting column, frame mechanism carried by said carriage and extending longitudinally therethrough in a direction cross- 'ing said rails andsupporting column, said frame mechanism bein movable bodily in the direction in which 1t extends,- an X-ray tube holder carried by said frame mechanism and by movements thereof adjustable toward and from said rail and supporting column,a gage rod, means controllable by provided with an indicatin the operator for connecting saidigag'e ,rod with said frame mechanism in different positions along the frame mechanism, and mechanism mounted upon said carriage and coacting with said gage rod for limiting the travel of said"frame mechanism relativelyuponsaid rails and movable in the direction of the length theredf, said carriage being member coacting with said gage for ena ling the operator to define the position,- of the carriage relatively to the rails, a gage rod, means controllable-by the operator for securing the gage rod in different positions relatively to the length of the rails, mechanism mounted upon said carriage and coacting with said gage rod for limiting the travel of said carriage relativelv tosa'id ga e rod, and means controllable by the will 0 the operator for securing said carriage to said gage rod and thus locking said carriage relatively to said rails.

17. In a device of the character described the comblnation of a pair of rails parallel with each-other, means for supporting said rails, a carriage" mounted upon said rails and movable in the direction of the length thereof,nieanscontrollable by the operator forlimiting the travel of the carriage relatively to the rails, frame mechanism mounted upon the carriage and movable relatively thereto in a direction crossing the length of the rails, an X-ray tube holder mounted upon said frame mechanism and movable to-. ward and from said rails, stop mechanism controllable at the will of the'operator for limiting the travel of said supportin mechanism relatively to' said rails, an

means controllable by the operator for clamping said stop mechanism so as to render said frame mechanism immovable relatively to said rails.

' FREDERICK TICHY. 

